Role of silicon content and final annealing temperature on microtexture and microstructure development in non-oriented silicon steel

A matrix of 12 iron–silicon specimens were investigated to identify the microtextures, grain misorientations and grain size distributions present and to relate them to the various silicon contents and annealing cycles. The steel grades examined contained either 1.0, 2.4 or 3 wt.% silicon. Three specimens were hot rolled only at 1100 °C and the remaining nine specimens, with various silicon levels, were given batch annealing heat treatments in the laboratory at the temperatures of 650, 700 or 750 °C. The results showed that the higher strain levels present in the hot rolled microstructures as silicon content increased created a greater driving force for recovery, recrystallisation and grain growth processes. The final grain size distributions were analysed in detail. With regard to textures the general trend in microtexture formation was dictated mainly by the level of rolling in the ferritic region, which had taken place.